– A coincidental gift received during National Poetry Month –
As natural as breathing, sharing works of (he)art is part of my everyday.
A few days after my last post was pubbed, a longtime friend noticed the ‘tree painting’ on the shelf beside Gracie. This prompted her to share a reading by Amanda Palmer of the following poem by Mary Oliver. She’s been listening to every day.
I get it. Poetry is a life line.
Life Force 2001, Helen Lurye
WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
by Mary OliverWhen I am among the trees,
Devotions: The Selected Poetry of Mary Oliver
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
If preferred: click here for direct link to Amanda’s reading on Soundcloud
I love Mary Oliver’s poem, and I adore that painting of the tree. I am going to go down a bit of a rabbit hole and try to find more of Helen Lurye’s artwork. Thanks for sharing both creations!
You’re welcome! Good luck with your search.
How lovely!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jennie.
?
You are welcome, Laura!
Love the poem–not one I had encountered previously. Hope you are well!
Yes, I am very well thank-you Carolina neighbor! I am happily balancing garden chores with new music ensemble rehearsals and starting a quilt project as well. 🙂
That’s a pretty poem. Trees don’t get enough attention or respect. – Marty
We better watch out or they just might rise up like the ones in the “Fighting Trees” scene in the Wizard of Oz!
What a lovely gift to receive, and share with us! Thank you. Those three last lines of the poem speak to me, and the tree painting is simply gorgeous.
My favorite line is: “I am so distant from the hope of myself”.
🙂
Reading Mary Oliver’s poems always makes me want to “stay awhile”
You’re right about that, Mariss.
Good selection. Laura. I’ve selected one to post which is on a similar theme.
I like the abstract connections poetry makes between individuals without regard to specifics…just connections. I’m over there to your blog in a few, to read and ruminate your selection.
🙂
We live in the land of the Giant Sequoias, so those trees are majestic and a bit intimidating if the wind is blowing like it is right now.
I’d say so!
😉
Wow Laura, it is like this post is a gift to my heart, thanks. Reading the poem was great but then listening to Amanda Palmer read it was exquisite. My heart has been hurting lately for many things going on (why not posting much these days) and I feel like this post was soothing ointment, hugs.
Tierney, thank *you* for your touching response…it helps me to know something as simple as my post in your WPReader soothed you that day.
hugs back –
Laura, this is a lovely poem and reading. Very soothing. <3 Thank you for posting it.
You are more than welcome, Cheryl. Perhaps one day you’ll post a video/recording of you reading one of your own poems?
Love it! I plan to share this poem with my book club.(We feature one poem each week.)
Lillian
Yay! What I really liked was the spoken word along with the text. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, besides yourself Madame Lillian!
Beautiful. I’m not familiar with this poem. I do like trees, they talk to me, too.
🙂
“To go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.” Beautiful. 🙂
I kinda thought it made for a great start to the week…
Beautiful post, Laura!!! Thank you for sharing that painting and the poem. And now I think of this poem:
Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918
119. Trees
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, 5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain. 10
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Thank you for your poem-gift in celebration of National Poetry Month, L.Marie!